4 ABA names the Québec City International Festival of Military Bands the Best Canadian Event for 2014

The American Bus Association (ABA) announced lately that the Québec City International Festival of Military Bands, to be held on August 19 to 24, has been designated as the best Canadian event for 2014 by an experienced expert tourism industry selection committee. This nomination also place the Festival as one of the Top 100 Events in North America, for a third time in a row. Inclusion in the Top 100 list, published as a supplement to the September/October issue of Destinations magazine, indicates that Québec City International Festival of Military Bands offers excellent entertainment value to both tour groups and individual travelers from around the world, according to ABA.

“The Festival is proud to be named Top Canadian Event for 2014. This is a proof that the event has established its reputation amongst the tourism industry professionals, as well as the tour operators in North America”, said Mr. Yvan Lachance, CEO of the Festival. “By this nomination, ABA recognizes the Festival positive impact regarding economic benefits. It also gives the event an important boost in visibility among professional tour planners”, explained Mr. Lachance.

With the release of the American Bus Association’s 2014 Top 100 Events in North America, ABA celebrates 32 years of the program. What began as a way for motorcoach operators to incorporate new product into their itineraries has grown to one of the most sought-after lists by travel professionals, motorcoach operators and the general public.

In recent years, the Top Canadian Event has been the Calgary Stampede (Calgary, 2013), the Niagara 1812 Bicentennial (Thurold, 2012), the Magic of Lanterns (Montreal, 2011), the Canadian Naval Centennial International Fleet Review (Halifax, 2010), the Tall Ships Nova Scotia Festival (Halifax, 2009) and the Quebec City 400th anniversary (Québec, 2008).

“Motorcoach groups spend more and stay longer,” said Peter J. Pantuso, CTIS, ABA’s president and CEO. “That’s why the Québec City International Festival of Military Bands is truly a local economic asset. There is no better way to jump-start tourism than to attract motorcoach groups to a great event and convince them to extend their stay.”

The American Bus Association (ABA) is the trade organization of the intercity bus industry with more than 1,000 motorcoach and tour company members in the United States and Canada. Its members operate charter, tour, regular route, airport express, special operations and contract services. Another 2,800 members are travel and tourism organizations and suppliers of bus products and services who work in partnership with the North American motorcoach industry.